U.S., Russia launch a start-up discussion

Together with the Russian Trade Representative’s Office in the United
States, USRBC co-hosted a digital videoconference on February 12, using
Cisco’s Telepresence technology and bringing together Russian start-up
companies and noted U.S. experts in successful start-up launches,
Startup DC Chairman Evan Burfield and Foundry Group’s CEO Brad Feld.

The event also featured the U.S. State Department’s Special
Representative for Business and Commercial Affairs Lorraine Hariton and
MED Deputy Minister Oleg Fomichev, coordinators of the U.S.-Russia
Innovation Working Group. Burfield and Feld encouraged Russia’s
start-ups to embrace risk-taking, to challenge the status quo, to
continually think long-term, and to develop inclusive eco-systems.

They
also emphasized the importance of initiatives that “evolve in
unpredictable patterns” and are led by entrepreneurs themselves - not
investors, universities or government, which tend to be hierarchal and
less responsive to change.

Ms.
Hariton suggested that government’s role in entrepreneurial ecosystems
is most critical in enabling the proper environment for start-ups to
flourish by protecting intellectual property, encouraging transparency,
improving bankruptcy laws and facilitating the licensing of technologies
out of universities. Noting that start-ups flourish beyond Silicon
Valley, she noted the variety of dynamic environments in the United
States and encouraged Russian start-ups to explore a U.S. cluster
mapping database.

Interested parties can track Russian start-ups through a list
developed by USRBC member Price Waterhouse Coopers, Russia’s Digital
October and the media group responsible for Russia Beyond the Headlines. The list tracks a list of top
50 start-ups in Russia and will reportedly be changed over time: https://www.rbth.com/startups.